Goal Setting Strategies For Complete Success

Goal setting needs one specific focus in order to obtain personal achievement. When our mind processes a demand it should be specific, clear, and intentional with a deadline attached. It’s not enough to start goal setting like: lose more weight, make more money, and so on. They need to be in exact increments. For example $200.00 dollars a week or 7 pounds a month. Having defined goals with specific detail will improve your success rate much faster and with more accuracy.

Please check out my free eBook – the Art of Personal Development with step by step strategies on Goal Setting. Also learn the habits, routines, and techniques of highly successful people. The tips & tricks illustrated literally changed my life. Get your free copy at ArchieManley.com

Goal setting is an art, and there is a reason why defined goals actually really work. Our mind filters out any sensory input that’s not relevant. This allows us to only see things that our brain perceives as relevant. For example: when you bought your last car did you suddenly notice that same model everywhere? This same car was on the road before but you never noticed it. You noticed other cars but not that exact model.

“A goal is a dream with a deadline”. Napoleon Hill

Our brain blocks out what is not relevant. In order for your mind to process a commanded goal it must be relevant. It is not enough to say next month, or some time in the future. This only confuses the brain. Goal setting is a science, and those that master it experience much more success.

Usually the People in life who experience positive change follow personal development principles that have been around since the dawn of thought. The life we now have has enormous potential when we learn to utilize the resources available within us. So how can this inner potential be harnessed to create the life you truly want?

Everything around us, and within us are in constant cycles of change creating new challenges and opportunities as we evolve. However one thing that seems to never change is human nature. Our primitive instincts to survive, and thrive cannot be ignored. The one common denominator we all have despite every cultural diversity is a deep desire for wealth, health, and happiness. But for any of these things to truly happen we must make some positive changes in our lives.

We all have areas in our life that need improvement, but the reasons vary! Maybe it’s time to start a new business, make new friends, get into a new relationship, or out of an old one. Usually it’s our intuition that lets us know when our life needs to change.

5 Essential skillsets for positive change

1 – Master Your Time Wisely

Every person on the planet has 24 hours each day to use wisely, or waste it away.We can easily find ourselves habitually wasting away time on things that don’t matter.

The choices we make everyday determines how we spend our time which determines our present state we find ourselves in. This reflects our true priorities, and measures our incentives. Time is priceless. We can either build our dreams, or waste them away on endless distractions that get us nowhere. Learn to increase your daily productivity, and eliminate time killer’s.

2 – Create a Dynamic DMO ( Daily Method Of Operation):

When you put your dreams into action your daily routines become detrimental to your success. We should know where we are, where we’re going, and how we plan to get there. Have you ever noticed how we get less done when we have no direction, organization, or plan in our life. Creating an Organized daily planner with a method of operation is a great tool that shows exactly what you want to achieve. Here’s some suggestions below.

Develop a dream

Find a mentor that has what you want

Duplicate what they do

Organize a daily method of operation

Avoid time killer’s

3 – Develop better people skills

Without people skills we simply don’t get far in life which makes positive change much harder. This one skill-set is what separates high income earners from low income earners in every industry. In most cases the better people skills we learn the more money we earn. At a deeper level this same skillset has an enormous affect on our marriage, family, and friends. The more energy, and effort we put into our relationships the more friends, resources, and opportunities pour back into our lives. Developing better people skills is not very complicating. Here’s 3 simple effective ways to make a positive change in the way others perceive you.

3 people skills that will make, or break you

Train Yourself to Smile More – A simple smile signals to other people that you are approachable, and likeable. On the hand when you don’t smile you seem unapproachable, and unlikable. Another good thing about smiling more often is it changes your mood from …. Ok another day ….. To … Wow, I’m smiling… Today I feel fantastic! When you feel good, others feel good around you.

Make Casual Eye Contact – Eye contact suggests that you’re honest, and trustworthy. When you look down, or away when people are talking with you they feel disrespected, unimportant, and ignored. To get anywhere with people they must feel respected. Learn to smile with your eyes, and nod slightly as to say ….. I like you …. You’re very interesting. Ask questions with your eyes engaged with curiosity, and interest. You can learn a lot about a person by looking into their eyes. The eye is a window to the soul. However don’t stare intently at them. This makes people feel uncomfortable. The whole idea is to connect with people at a deeper level.

Learn to Listen – Developing a keen ear to listen to other people talk takes practice because it’s our nature to premeditate what we’re going to say next. As a result we’re not paying attention to what’s being said to us. Learn to listen, and you’ll be praised by others without hardly saying a word. People are much more interested in how much you care then how much you know.

I have always wanted to be a catalyst for bringing about positive change, inspiring others to choose goodness. Shari Arison

4 – Grow your life in personal development

Develop a Plan of Action – Having a life plan on paper is helpful, but without action it’s worthless. The more we put off what needs to be done the easier it gets to procrastinate on our dreams.

Put Goals Into Perspective – Writing down your goals is easy! The hard part is living it out once the ink dries. Knowing what you want will sharpen your clarity, but the power of change is in your mind not a piece of paper.

Make small changes – Small consistent changes create big results overtime. If you feel overwhelmed doing big things, try doing small things in a big way. The main thing is to stay consistent as you grow your life in personal development.

5 – Transform your power into positive change

Information without transformation is worthless. Ask yourself what really matters then move your daily activities in that direction. We can choose at any moment to either build our dreams or ignore them. To do what’s important, or waste time on things that aren’t. We can transform bad habits into good habits or do the opposite. It’s in our power to make positive changes, and once we do it can literally transform our life.

Throughout history a change of thought has literally changed families, communities, nations, and the world. For many of us a simple change of thought would revolutionize our entire life. It would improve our health, our self confidence, our relationships, and our business. But how can we actually change the way we think about ourselves, and our outlook on life?

Affirmations have proven to be a great place to start. They’re an effective way to shift our perception of ourselves at a subconscious level. Many of us are unable to experience a better life due to mental barriers, and destructive thought patterns that hold us back. However you don’t have to be a total pessimist to benefit tremendously from using affirmations.

It’s no secret that we become what we think about most ….. So why not think about what you want in your life? Affirmations are an effective tool to improve your results in every industry, and business.

If you practice affirmations on a daily basis your mind will begin to direct you in ways you never imagined. You’ll think of solutions to problems that seemed impossible before. Brilliant ideas will pop into your mind out of nowhere triggering creative ways to do things better, and more efficiently.

You’ll become more productive, more alert, and motivated as you learn to master the art of positive affirmations.

Using affirmations subconsciously

Affirmations is a science for those who use them properly. There is a constant battle between the conscious and subconscious mind. We may have good intentions using willpower, and brute force to overcome bad habits, addictions, and wrong thinking, but if these intentions are not ingrained subconsciously they will most likely never happen.

Health and wellness affirmations for healing

We can speak positive words into our mind, body, and spirit for healing. This is done through prayer, and meditation to enhance our overall wellness. Imagine the benefits when you master positive affirmations.

I am now increasing all levels of energy – mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully these positive affirmations will help you in your journey toward positive change. Practice them every day. Decide on thoughts that motivate you, and start focusing on words to make them true. This is a great way to start creating positive change in your life.

My wife Natalee, and I enjoying life after 33 years of marriage. See my personal story on the about page.

Power struggles is one of the biggest reasons more marriages end up in court then a life filled with love and happiness. Statistically the chances of any marriage to survive is not in everyone’s favor. As the divorce rates continue to skyrocket in marriage the sacred sacrifice of love for many have been lost.

One of the most miserable ways to live life is with someone you have grown to despise. There truly is a fine line between love and hate. If you’re going through power struggles in your marriage, you know exactly what that means. The endless arguments over the stupidest things, and the feeling of resentment, anger, and even regret. Here we will expose the root cause for power struggles in marriage, and offer real solutions that work. When you know the cause you can develop a plan to overcome them once and for all. Having a game plan for your marriage may not seem fun, romantic, or sexy, but the alternative is usually a lot worse.

Why Power struggles?

When marriage begins certain boundaries have to be established in order for the relationship to have flow and function. These boundaries are invisible barriers that stem from our emotions, feelings, and identity. Whenever silly arguments start they usually have nothing to do with the real issue. The real issue is hidden deep down entangled with emotions that are shrouded with insecurity.

These insecurities are in denial and are usually demonstrated by the need to dominate and have power and control. Overtime we learn to hide behind our true feelings of being powerless, and unappreciated. We try hard to never let our insecurities show who we really are. There are many ways to win power struggles in marriage but here we will cut to the chase. Power struggles can be broken by three key elements that help hold the foundation of the marriage together.

Recognize: When the root cause of power struggles is recognized in marriage you have a real shot at overcoming it. There are real consequences when power struggles persist so weigh them carefully. Power struggles are like a tug-of war pulling a rope exerting every ounce of energy at all cost for victory. The problem is there’s no victory in power struggles with marriage. Both end up losing and many times the children are stuck with the consequences.

Power struggles drains the marriage and eventually causes broken dreams and wasted years of misery. Having a my way or highway attitude will eventually leave you with your worst fears. Powerless, unappreciated, not needed, and alone! Recognizing power struggle motives and realizing the consequences help give a new healthy perspective.

Trust: It’s better to trust and be happy then not to and be miserable. Trust is not about perfection but more in honesty and dependability. Before you can truly be open and honest there has to be a willingness of trust. Trust takes time and can be lost much quicker than gaining it.

Would you trust someone who makes mistakes and admits it, or someone who lies and tries to cover it up? Many of us are guilty in one way or another if we’re truly honest! Trust is layered in the foundation of truth and without it the marriage will not stand.

Be open: Being more open takes practice, and courage because it will leave you venerable for criticism. When heated arguments start remember the real reasons are insecurities. No matter who is right the tug of war has begun and both are on a quest to win. So how can this never-ending cycle be broken or at least reduced for the purpose of sanity? You will never win with power struggles in marriage as long as you’re pulling the rope. Let go of the rope and harness your inward power to rise above the argument.

Now you’re in complete control and you will need to be as transparent open and honest as possible. This action just cut the rope in half so now there’s nothing to pull from either side. Letting go of the rope is not about being right or wrong, it’s having the power within to destroy the petty back and forth argument and rise above the insecurities.

This starting point broke the power struggles in half and has now left you vulnerable in the hands of your spouse so you can actually hear what they have to say. This may seem like you’re setting yourself up for disrespect and a lost fight but think again. The battle may have been lost momentarily but the war is now strategic and the enemy is not your spouse but the power struggle itself.

Power struggles vs true love

The power of love can overcome power struggles and bring hope back into most marriages. When you feel out of love and there’s nothing left, love is still there deep down.

Some people make more mistakes than others but love covers a multitude of wrongs. Your marriage can always improve if the foundation is built on love the most powerful source in the universe. People will marry for convenience, money, companionship, religion, and so on! But with out “Love” it will never fulfill the desires of the heart. Deep down you know if you are in love or just going through the motions.

One way to make marriage completely dysfunctional is to have an appetite to physiologically overpower your spouse and try to control them intellectually. This will only tear down confidence and if you ever win you have truly lost. Find ways to give compliments and encouragement even if you have to think hard, but don’t flatter. Love is more than an emotion and with time, effort, and patience it can overcome power-struggles.

The power of love can restore the marriage better than before and reignite the passion to accomplish lost dreams and goals. When two people marry for love, there’s a power that binds them together for any accomplishments in life. Sometimes it seems easier just to walk away then sort out the problems, but with patience love can overcome power struggles.

Develop a gameplan to win

The marriage life without a plan of action is like building a house without an architect. Your marriage should be more than hope for the best and plan for the worst. Most people remember their wedding day and how magical the moment seemed, but things change over time and so do people. The marriage will go through never-ending cycles of change with ups and downs, but the magic is rekindled the moment a vision is born that both agree on and are willing to embrace each other for it.

Having a marriage plan together with goals helps bring clarity back into the relationship. Planned goals are easy when things are going well in marriage but hard when they’re not. When a marriage is under having goals seem pointless! But something powerful happens when both can still agree on set goals despite differences.

Often times when the marriage is on the brink of divorce, restoration is closer than you might think! After 28 years of marriage raising a son and two daughters, I’ve learned a few things about marriage and parenting. There was a time when our marriage was on the rocks and I was blinded with good intentions. I thought what more does she want from me, I work hard supply our needs and never stop.

You see, that was the problem I never stopped! I never stopped to recognize her or tell her how much I love and cherished her. I never stopped to be Open and tell her who I really was and how I really felt about our marriage, life and my insecurities. And I lost my way and couldn’t even Trust myself not to mention anyone else in life.

Having a marriage plan was the last thing on my mind! You can begin today and avoid the lessons I had to learn by putting in place a plan of action to destroy power struggles for what they are, and begin a new life of vision and purpose. This is the way you win power struggles in marriage.

Final thoughts

Rise above the petty arguments and break free from the bonds that keep the marriage back. This plan of action is a 100% commitment. Not my way or highway. This plan when used properly will change the circumstance in marriage power struggles and create the life you both deserve.

Sometimes it’s the simple daily habits that can either improve our life, or make it much harder. Below are some ideas to make life a little easier, and enjoyable, while you move toward that big dream, and create a better life for yourself.

Daily Habits to Make Life Simple

Get present. Studies find the best way to stay cheerful is to stay centered in the present—even when it’s not all that pleasant. In contrast, a wandering mind and daydreaming can bring people down. The best way to re-center? Sit quietly for a few minutes and try some deep, calming breaths. Focus on the breath moving in and out of the body and gently guide attention back to the breath if the mind starts to wander.

Count your blessings. Think about or write down what you’re thankful for. Even if there’s not time to write down everything,expressing gratitude creates an instant mood boost.

Snuggle up. Climbing under a soft blanket for a few minutes might make us more relaxed and flexible. Researchers found there’s something about contact with soft things that just makes us feel better.

Do something nice for somebody else. Yep, being nice can help us feel nicer. Small actions—holding the door for the person behind you, sending a quick love text to a partner or friend, or donating ten bucks to a favorite charity—count, so there’s no excuse not to get your nice on.

Go somewhere quiet. Even if it’s just the office bathroom, taking a few minutes to sit in a quiet space with no external stimulation can do wonders for a bad mood.

Cuddle. Physical touch can decrease stress, make us feel happier, and even improve our health. For the single folks among us, don’t fret: Even a quick hug with a friend or acquaintance can yield benefits.

Hang out with a pet. Cuddling, playing, or just chillin’ with Fido can help us feel happier and less stressed .

Achieve a goal. Even small successes can have big mood payoffs. Toss a crumpled ball of paper into the trash can Michael Jordan style, win a game of Solitaire, pick up a pencil off the floor using only your toes—in moments you’ll be basking in the glory of accomplishment.

Give yourself a massage. A quick rubdown (focus on the neck, shoulders, lower back, and feet) can improve mood and release stress.

Meditate. Meditation is a quick, effective way to chill out and improve our outlook, and it might even make us smarter . Just a few minutes of sitting quietly, focusing on the breath, and maybe chanting a few Oms (silently or out loud) can snap us out of a funk.

Laugh. Laughter can cheer us up and decrease anxiety—and the best news is it doesn’t have to be “genuine” to have a positive effect. So even when it seems like there’s absolutely nothing funny in all of this world, busting out a big guffaw might just change your mind . Need help getting started? Check out the latest viral youtube videos, the Greatest tumblr, or anything said by Zack Galifianakis.

Do something new. We know, you’ve only got a few minutes; it’s not like you can change careers or fly to Iceland. The good news is even adding something small to a normal routine can brighten up a day. Order a chai if you normally drink coffee, take a different route to the bathroom at work, wear something you would normally never wear.

Dress up. Speaking of clothing: Buying new garb can amp up mood, but a person doesn’t have to drop cash to reap clothes’ benefits. Wearing the color red can boost confidence and self-esteem—which might just be the pick-me-up you were looking for.

Notice small miracles. Cultivating positivity and a sense of wonder can build positive outlook . Feeling stuck? Look around for small wonders (a butterfly, an act of kindness, something beautiful) or check out sites like Happy News, Good News Network, and Daily Good for a happier outlook on the world.

These are only a few daily habits that can help enhance your mood, and provide a better life. The point is not to try doing all of them in one day, but do some of them in your daily routine. I think they will make a big difference in your overall well-being. They can also help bring more structure, mental clarity, and balance with new things, new ideas, and new daily habits. This is the entire 34-ways to bust a bad mood in ten-minutes, or less.

7 More Daily Habits to Improve Your Mood

Below is 7 simple daily habits to help increase happiness, improve your mood, and ultimately bring a better life.

1. Munch on nuts.
For a mood-lifting snack, stash walnuts in your desk drawer. Or sneak salmon into your salad for lunch. They’re both packed with omega-3 fats, which may make people less prone to depression, and easier to get along with, say researchers from the University of Pittsburgh. They measured the blood levels of omega-3 fats (a reliable indicator of consumption) of 106 healthy adults and gave them psychological tests. Those with the highest omega-3 blood levels scored 49 to 58% better on the tests than those with the lowest blood levels.

2. Flip through old photos.

When you’re feeling down, break out your kids’ baby albums or pics from your favorite vacation. It may actually make you feel happier than a square of Godiva chocolate would. That’s what researchers at the United Kingdom’s Open University found after they examined how much people’s moods rose after eating a chocolate snack, sipping an alcoholic drink, watching TV, listening to music, or looking at personal photos. The music and chocolate left most people’s moods unchanged; alcohol and TV gave a slight lift (1%), but viewing pictures made people feel 11% better. To keep your spirits high at work, upload your favorite pics to your computer and set them as a rotating screensaver. Or splurge on a frame that flips through digital photos.

MORE: 8 Ways To Have Your Best Day Ever

3. Inhale a calming scent.
Fill your office with a fragrant candle or diffuser to calm down during a deadline-packed day. In an Austrian study, researchers wafted the smell of oranges before some participants and lavender before others. The two groups felt less anxious, more positive, and calmer when compared with participants who were exposed no fragrance at all. Add a few drops of either oil to a room diffuser (we like the Scentball, available at amazon.com) and use in your office on stressful days.

4. Open your shades.
To feel happier in seconds, let the sunlight stream in when you first wake up. One study of more than 450 women found that those who got the most light, particularly in the morning, reported better moods and sleep. Got more time? Eat breakfast near a window that gets plenty of daylight, and put exercise equipment near a bright view. Some researchers speculate that combining exercise with morning light exposure may amplify light’s beneficial effects on mood, sleep, and alertness, says Anthony Levitt, MD, a University of Toronto light researcher.

5. Walk around the block.
If you work in a windowless office, make sure you step out to see the sun a few times throughout the day. “Studies show that people who get more light exposure during the day have fewer sleep problems and less depression, and evidence suggests that light can keep you alert and productive,” says Daniel Kripke, MD, a University of California, San Diego, light and sleep expert.

If you have more time, a longer bout of exercise may also spark a smile. “Lots of people skip working out when their moods aren’t ideal because they don’t have the mental energy to switch gears,” says mental health and exercise expert Jack Raglin, PhD, of Indiana University. “But the trick lies in finding the right workout to match the mood you’re in.” When you’re battling blues, try something low-key and mindless. “Studies have shown that even mild exercise, about 40% of your max heart rate, can lift your mood,” says Raglin. “So if you’re not up for the usual high-energy stuff, do some leisure activity you enjoy, such as digging in your garden or walking in a park. View it as mental recreation, not exercise.” If you’re angry, pick something that makes you focus. “As tempting as it may be, skip the kickboxing,” Raglin advises. “You can’t punch away anger. Instead, do something that involves your mind and keeps you from focusing and ruminating on what has you angry. Play racquetball, or take an aerobics class you’ve never tried. Learning new moves will free your mind from what’s upsetting you.”

MORE: 7 Ways To Work Out At The Office

6. Clear away clutter.

Disorganized heaps of paper in your cube or on the kitchen counter can make you anxious. For some, “clutter is a reminder of things that should be getting done but aren’t,” says Elaine Aron, PhD, author of The Highly Sensitive Person. “It can make you feel like a failure.” For a quick fix, straighten up a few surfaces in your office or in the areas of the house where you spend the most time. “It’s when every bit of space is messy that it’s most disturbing,” says Aron. Don’t bother to organize unless you have a chunk of time. Instead, arrange papers, books, and other detritus of daily living in neat piles or store them in baskets. “Just the illusion of order is enough to ease the mind,” she says.

7. Think fast.
Turn your thoughts into a race—it can lift the blues in minutes, says Princeton University psychologist Emily Pronin, PhD. For example, when your mother-in-law is driving you crazy, give yourself 30 seconds to make a list of all the ways she’s been helpful to you in the past—you’ll feel better fast. (If nothing nice comes to mind, quickly jot down other ways she bugs you; speed thinking negative thoughts can still improve your mood, Pronin found.) Researchers believe that rapid thinking may release feel-good brain chemicals—or it could just be a helpful distraction. Here’s 2 minutes to a happier you.

Final Thoughts

All of these tips & tricks are an excellent way to bring more happiness, and improve your life. Hopefully some of these daily habits will help organize, and put some structure into your projects, and daily tasks. The best ways to avoid to0 much stress, and overload is to start out small. After all it’s the small things we do everyday that mold a better life.

To rise above mediocrity we must go beyond the robotic mind-set of social conditioning. Living in mediocrity makes people only do enough to survive, never exerting a challenge, or bettering them-self. The good news is it’s never too late to avoid this, and recreate your life story.

As human beings we are all creatures of habit. We become increasingly robotic in our routine at work and in life. Although convenient, this can lead to a life without self-improvement, or reaching higher levels of success. In order to rise above we must expand our learning curb in personal growth, and embrace a better way to think, and live.

#1- Get Motivated in Goal Setting

Getting motivated and staying motivated isn’t always an easy task. Even people who have achieved great success fall into slumps and find it hard to get motivated at certain times in their life. This is why goal setting is so important. If you’re in a slump right now, you know exactly what I mean.

No matter how many successes you’ve had in the past, it all seems irrelevant now. It seems like no matter how hard you try, no matter what you do, you won’t be able to achieve your goals; and even if you do, you’re not sure that accomplishing them will make you feel any better.

Fortunately for you, no matter how bad it seems right now, it doesn’t have to stay that way. You have a lot of options when it comes to breaking free from set-back, and barriers.

When we set goals we need one specific focus. When our mind processes a demand it has to be specific, with a deadline attached. It’s not enough to set goals like: lose more weight, make more money, and so on. They need to be in exact increments like $175.00 dollars a week or 7 pounds a month. The mind has the power to process thought patterns that ensures specific goals happen on time with precision. Having specific goals with detail, and a deadline attached will help you rise above mediocrity.

“A goal is a dream with a deadline”. Napoleon Hill

#2- Imagine success before it happens

Imagination is a powerful tool to create a better life for yourself. Focus on something you want to achieve, and then mentally simulate it over and over in your mind as it plays out. Athletes often use this technique to visualize themselves winning races, scoring points, or making a comeback after failure, and disadvantaged games.

If you want to truly be successful here’s a great place to start. Start focusing your mind on what you want in life and visualize it in detail. If you do this consistently the results will amaze you. Successful entrepreneurs visualize themselves becoming successful before it happens. We have a gift to not only think, but to imagine.

When we put limits on our beliefs our thoughts become subject. People living in mediocrity can’t see themselves as becoming successful. So why not break free from this negative mindset? Imagine the possibilities when you start believing in yourself, and others around you.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” Albert Einstein.

#3 – Become an effective communicator

Everything we do in life in some way involves other people. Effective communication is more than just exchanging information. If your goal is to connect with people train yourself to instinctively listen to their body language as well as what they’re saying. You can learn a lot about people when you stop conscientiously and listen.

Listening is an effective form of communication that many never master. This one technique of highly effective communication will provide better relationships, more resources, and much more success. This will set you apart in business, and help you build better relationships in your personal life as well.

“The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives”. Tony Robbins

#4- Spend time and money wisely

Time is priceless! Our life is an allotment of time given here on earth. At the end of our days we won’t say I wish I had more money! We will say I wish I had more time. The way we spend our time reflects our priorities, and our priorities reflect the way we spend money. Becoming conscious of the value of time, and putting money in its proper place is a wise choice that can make yourself very rich and successful.

“Waste your money and your only out of money, but waste your time and you’ve lost a part of your life”. Micheal LeBoeuf

The best techniques that you can use to motivate yourself usually have a shelf life. Motivation is the driving force needed to fuel any dream, but what happens when the fuel runs dry? What happens when the core of your being is being stretched, and tested beyond anything you’ve ever experienced. To stay motivated we need a plan of action with the motivation to make it a reality. The problem for most of us is not motivation, but sustainability Evenhighly successful peoplefind themselves in a rut at certain times in their life.

How to motivate yourself

Who needs Tony Robbins when you can motivate yourself? Overcoming the emotional hurdle to get stuff done when you’d rather sit on the couch isn’t always easy. But unless calling in sick and waking up at noon have no consequences for you, it’s often a must.

For those of you who never procrastinate, distract yourself or drag your feet when you should be doing something important, this article isn’t for you. But for the rest of us humans, it’s good to have a library of motivational boosters to move us along.

How to Avoid Motivation

The best way to motivate yourself is to organize your life so you don’t have to. If work is a constant battle for you, perhaps it is time to start thinking about a new job. The idea is that explicit motivational techniques should be a backup, not your regular routine.

Here are some other things to consider making work flow more naturally:

Passion. Do things you have a passion for. We all have to do things we don’t want to. But if life has become a chronic source of dull chores, you’ve got a big problem that needs fixing.

Habits. You can’t put everything on autopilot. But I’ve found putting a few core habits in place creates a structure for the day. Waking up at the same time, working at the same times and having a similar productive routine makes it easier to do the next day.

Flow. Flow is the state where your mind is completely focused on the task at hand. While there are many factors that go into producing this state, having the right challenge level is a big part. Find ways to tweak your tasks so they hover in that sweet spot between boredom and maddening frustration.

Motivation Tips

Despite your best efforts, passion, habits and a flow-producing environment can fail. In that case, it’s time to find whatever emotional pump-up you can use to get started. Here are a few:

Go Back to “Why” – Focusing on a dull task doesn’t make it any more attractive. Zooming out and asking yourself why you are bothering in the first place will make it more appealing. If you can’t figure out why, then there’s a good chance you shouldn’t bother with it in the first place.

Go for Five – Start working for five minutes. Often that little push will be enough to get you going.

Move Around – Get your body moving as you would if you were extremely motivated to do something. This ‘faking it’ approach to motivation may seem silly or crude, but it works.

Find the Next Step – It’s impossible to work on a project. All you can do is focus on the next immediate step. Fighting an amorphous blob of work will only cause procrastination. Chunk it up so that it becomes manageable.

Find Your Itch – What is keeping you from working. Don’t let the itch continue without isolating it and removing the problem. Are you unmotivated because your tired, afraid, bored, restless or angry. Maybe it is because you aren’t sure you have time or delegated tasks haven’t been finished yet.

Deconstruct Your Fears – I’m sure you don’t have a phobia about getting stuff done. But at the same time, hidden fears or anxieties can keep you from getting real work completed. Isolate the unknowns and make yourself confident you can handle the worst case scenario.

Get a Partner – Find someone who will motivate you when you’re feeling lazy. I have a friend I go to the gym with. Besides spotting weight, having a friend can help motivate you to work hard when you’d normally quit.

Kickstart Your Day – Plan out tomorrow. Get up early and place all the important things early in the morning. Building momentum early in the day can usually carry you forward far later.

Read Books – Not just self-help or motivational books, but any book that has new ideas. New ideas get your mental gears turning and can build motivation. Learning new ideas puts your brain in motion, so it requires less time to speed up to your tasks.

Get the Right Tools – Your environment can have a profound effect on your enthusiasm. Computers that are too slow, inefficient applications or a vehicle that breaks down constantly can kill your motivation. Building motivation is almost as important as avoiding the traps that can stop it.

There are No Small Problems – The worst killer of motivation is facing a seemingly small problem that creates endless frustration. Reframe little problems that must be fixed as bigger ones, or they will kill any drive you have.

Develop a Mantra – Find a few statements that focus your mind and motivate you. It doesn’t matter whether they are pulled from a tacky motivational poster, or just a few words to tell you what to do. If you aren’t sure where to start, a good personal mantra is, “Do it now!”

Build on Success – Success creates success. When you’ve just won, it is easy to feel motivated about almost anything. Emotions tend not to be situation specific, so a small win, whether it is a compliment from a colleague or finishing two thirds of your tasks before noon can turn you into a juggernaut. There are many ways you can place small successes earlier on to spur motivation later. Structuring your to-do lists, placing straightforward tasks such as exercising early in the day or giving yourself an affirmation can do the trick.

Learn to motivate yourself without getting burned out. That’s the key to success in whatever you do. Staying motivated is an art that is not easily achieved. Some great techniques stem from a passionate desire deep down inside. You need to get emotionally connected to whatever it is you need in your life. For example if you need more money start dream building at once. Go do some window shopping, and imagine yourself buying anything you wanted. This takes practice, but over time you’ll feel a stronger connection to what you want in your life. When this happens a desire is born, and with desire comes motivation, and once you learn to motivate yourself the sky’s the limit to your success. See – Thirteen Tricks to Motivate Yourself